Development of infrastructure for a systemic multidisciplinary approach to study aging in retired sled dogs

Canine model of mammalian aging

Medical advances during the last century have significantly extended the average lifespan and healthspan of humans. While, in large part, this has been through the development of improved treatments for specific diseases, we are also continually gaining insights into the mechanisms of aging itself. With this growing depth of knowledge, aging is no longer considered an untouchable law of nature but rather a physiological challenge that may be defeated by science and medicine. Most of our current knowledge about mammalian aging is derived from human gerontology. This provides a strong phenomenological foundation, but little insight into aging mechanisms. Mechanistic studies have been primarily conducted in the most accessible animal model, laboratory mice. Mouse models allowed the in vitro phenomenon of cellular senescence to be linked to systemic “inflammaging” [1, 2], led to the discovery of aging biomarkers [3, 4], allowed development of valuable experimental tools [5], and were used to demonstrate the efficacy of several antiaging approaches (i.e., mTOR inhibitors and senolytic compounds) [6–13]. However, inbred animals living in artificially healthy conditions without any environmental stresses are likely to only remotely represent naturally occurring mammalian aging [14]. Thus, extending aging research towards more relevant experimental models is desperately needed.

In this regard, the canine model provides multiple advantages. Compared to mice, the aging of dogs resembles that of humans much more closely. Like humans, aged dogs develop frailty and several age-related diseases, including obesity, chronic renal and liver pathologies, congestive heart failure, arthritis, sarcopenia, cancer, immune-mediated pathologies, and neurodegenerative diseases [15–18]. Also, like humans, dogs receive medical treatments such as surgical procedures, chemo- and radiation-therapy, dental care, and vaccinations [19, 20]. Moreover, dogs share the environment with humans and are, therefore, physiologically and psychologically closer to us than most other animal species making canines a valuable model for preclinical pharmacology. These considerations, which have been long recognized in oncology and are highlighted in the Comparative Oncology Program at the National Cancer Institute [21], are equally applicable to the study of aging. Thus, it is gratifying to see aging studies increasingly performed in canine models.

The use of canines for aging studies works towards the obvious goal of prolonging the healthspan of humans and addresses the potential for extending the healthy years of humans’ closest companions – domestic dogs. In many societies, dogs are no longer treated as mere pets but more like family members whose well-being is a significant quality-of-life (QOL) factor for their owners. The depth of such relationships is reflected in veterinary questionnaires indicating that most owners provide better medical care and comply with health check visits more rigorously for their dogs than they do for themselves [22]. Another important aspect of the role of dogs in our society is their involvement in essential human services. The extensive training required for professional assistance-, guide- and rescue-dogs (taking around 2 years) is not well balanced with their limited number of active/working years; thus, extending working dogs’ healthspans is highly desirable [23].

Existing canine aging studies

The potential significance of canines for aging research is reflected in a growing number of studies performed in aging dog models. The largest longitudinal study to date is the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study [24], which follows a cohort of over 3,000 privately-owned Golden Retrievers from 6 months of age until their natural death. Information on the dogs’ health is collected from owners and veterinarians. Biobanking of biological samples is conducted jointly by Morris Animal Foundation, Flint Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University, and American Humane Association (https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/golden-retriever-lifetime-study). The main goal of this study is to define risk factors for development of canine diseases, with a predominant focus on cancer. Started in 2015, this study has already revealed several important aspects of canine biology, such as inbreeding effects on fecundity [25] and adverse effects of gonadectomy on obesity and orthopedic complications in future life [26].

Another outstanding research platform enabling longitudinal data collection from aging dogs is the Dogs Aging Project (https://dogagingproject.org/) conducted by the University of Washington and Texas A&M University [27]. The primary goal of this study is to test in dogs the antiaging properties of rapamycin, an FDA-approved mTOR inhibitory drug that was initially developed as an immune-suppressant but showed antiaging properties in mice [5] and anti-cancer properties in mice [28–30] and humans [31]. An initial randomized, double-blind veterinary clinical trial confirmed the safety of this treatment and provided indications of potential efficacy (benefits for cardiac function) in dogs [32]. As the next step, the study is currently enrolling 500 more dogs of various genetic and environmental backgrounds to participate in a larger double-blind, placebo-controlled rapamycin study. Separately, this project plans to enroll 10,000 dogs over ten years and observe their natural aging while collecting data and samples, which will allow analysis of genetic, environmental, and veterinary factors affecting canine health and longevity.

Other studies of canine aging have tended to focus on specific pathologies rather than a systemic evaluation of the aging process. Examples include studies in the well-established field of canine cognitive dysfunction, an aging-associated neuropathological condition resembling Alzheimer’s Disease in humans [33], studies of musculoskeletal pathologies [34, 35], which are believed to be most prevalent in old canines [36], and obesity-prevention studies primarily focused on evaluating nutrition and exercise programs [37, 38]. In addition, most of these studies are cross-sectional and thus do not provide insight into the dynamics of aging-related trajectories. Therefore, additional longitudinal research broadly assessing multiple body systems is required to fill these gaps.

In planning our approach to address this need, we also wanted to overcome another limitation of most previous canine aging studies - their reliance on dogs living in private households, which adds multiple confounding factors that complicate data generation and interpretation. The diversity of environmental, psychological, and nutrition states of privately-housed dogs, as well as differences in owners’ compliance to regular check-ups and tests, introduce undesired “noise” in the data [39]. Our goal was to establish a research infrastructure free from such external variability to focus on the intrinsic factors and processes that control aging in dogs and ultimately test experimental antiaging approaches. Therefore, instead of using privately-owned and -housed canines, we chose to establish and study a population of dogs with similar prior lifestyles (retired sled dogs) housed and studied at a centralized facility with standardized optimal housing conditions and veterinary care as described further below.

Our aging study: rationale and focus

Aging is a multi-factorial process of functional decline of various physiological systems progressing with age, which leads to a gradual decrease in resilience following stress, injury, and disease. All existing theories of aging can be divided into two categories, which explain aging primarily as either (i) an accumulation of errors and deficiencies or (ii) a genetically determined program – a “biological clock” [40]. Both categories include several hypotheses, each based on a specific mechanism. The error accumulation theory, for example, proposes that aging results from a gradual increase in damage of nuclear [41] and/or mitochondrial DNA [42] in somatic cells, an increase in levels of reactive oxygen species causing molecular and cellular damage, and increasing malfunctioning of proteasomal/lysosomal degradation resulting in accumulation of “debris” such as modified proteins [43]. These hypotheses seem to be well substantiated by everyday experience, which provides numerous examples of error accumulation in any machinery over time. However, they fail to explain the low variability in longevity among individual representatives of the same species and its insignificant extension even under the healthiest environmental and dietary conditions. This apparent contradiction supports an alternative view of aging as a genetically determined program, which is represented by several theories such as programmed impairment of regeneration capabilities due to exhaustion of somatic stem cells because of telomere reduction [44], genome destabilization by intrinsic DNA damaging, and mutation-generating mechanisms (e.g., expansion of endogenous retroelements, the importance of which has been recently demonstrated in cancer and aging [45, 46]), the activity of an epigenetic clock affecting the profile of expressed genes with age explaining a hormone production decline [47], and progressive functional decline of the immune system (immunosenescence) [48, 49].

Regardless of disagreements on the mechanisms and relative impact of endogenous and exogenous factors on the rate of aging, these views are complementary, and both agree on the existence of two principal underlying aging-associated factors: progressive genome damage and immune system dysfunction. Together, these factors result in the accumulation of damaged cells followed by chronic inflammation, which leads to increased risks of infections, neoplasia, and other age-related diseases. (Figure 1). Therefore, our research strategy focuses on analyzing genome destabilization and dysfunction of the immune system occurring with age and linking them with the main universally accepted clinical signs of aging, i.e., progressive decreases in physical activity and musculoskeletal integrity, cognitive dysfunction, and development of age-related diseases.

As mentioned above, we wished to eliminate the added variability associated with studying privately housed dogs for our program. A conventional solution to this problem would be to use laboratory-bred dogs (e.g., beagles). However, this scenario still has significant drawbacks due to the animals’ narrow genetic background and lack of exposure to natural environmental pathogens leading to insufficient immune system training [14], both of which could impact critical points of natural aging processes. Using household dogs placed in a facility with unified conditions is also not ideal since they would come from highly variable prior conditions and breed backgrounds and would experience substantial emotional stress by being separated from their owners. Therefore, we chose to focus on retired working dogs raised and kept under generally similar conditions and accustomed to working with several different handlers (suggesting that their accommodation in our facility would be less stressful).

Among available working dogs, we chose sled dogs for the following reasons: (i) Genetics: Sled dogs represent a genetically distinct population that is somewhat similar to purebred breeds due to their intense selection for performance and lifestyle (outdoor housing) yet is relatively heterogeneous due to their open breeding management (dogs can and are occasionally crossbred with purebred breeds to enhance performance). This unique genetic structure provides a relatively homogeneous population to study without high levels of inbreeding confounding the assessment of aging. (ii) Environmental exposure: These dogs are raised under natural conditions allowing exposure to environmental pathogens through group interactions, thus providing an adequate model for assessing immune system aging. (iii) Adaptability: Despite originating from multiple kennels, these dogs are accustomed to generally living in a pack with less bonding to a single individual, which helps them quickly adapt to new boarding conditions. (iv) Existing background information: Due to their participation in competitions throughout their lives, there are commonly records of the physical performance of these dogs. This data will help us track any decline in their physical fitness after retirement and monitor other physiological parameters associated with this decline and whether specific treatments can restore it. Moreover, due to strong interest in the athletic features of this population, several studies have described major hematological and other physiological parameters characteristic of young sled dogs participating in racing [50, 51], making it easier to analyze changes occurring after their retirement.

Establishment of a kennel and research facility for retired sled dogs

Development of the infrastructure to accomplish the goals described above began in 2018 with the creation of Vaika, Inc., a not-for-profit medical research entity dedicated to the aging sled dog program, and establishing a kennel and research facility on the Baker Institute campus of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY). Under the Vaika-led program, we have enrolled and currently house/monitor 103 retired sled dogs (56 males, 47 females) ranging in age from 8 to 11 years old at the time of enrollment. This population was recruited from 23 kennels across North America and includes 57 dogs trained as sprinters, typically running <30 miles, and 47 dogs trained for distance events spanning 200-1000 miles.

Recruited dogs are housed in an 8,254-sq. ft. kennel facility that includes six 675-sq. ft. boarding rooms equipped with single-house kennels with removable dividers to facilitate co-housing of compatible animals (Supplementary Figure 1). Its veterinary suite (406 sq. ft.) includes a prep room, a surgical suite, a laboratory area, and an exam room with a wet table for dental cleanings and other non-sterile veterinary procedures (labeled as “Procedure rooms” in Supplementary Figure 1). A 464-sq. ft. room houses a gait analysis treadmill (Gait4Dogs) and a painted floor space with a ceiling-mounted camera for behavioral observations (“Playroom”). The facility has three dedicated outdoor fenced-in fields, where dogs are let out twice daily for 20-30 minutes of supervised play in groups of 3-8 compatible dogs for social enrichment and environmental exposure.

Upon arrival at the facility, we obtained owner informed consent to release the dog to Cornell University, pedigree, vaccination, and health records, and typical racing performance histories for all dogs. Dogs were acclimatized, veterinarians performed physical exams and preliminary bloodwork, females were spayed, and all dogs were placed on the same diet (Annamaet Extra 26, Annamaet Petfoods, Sellersville, PA). Vaccines and parasite treatments were updated as needed, and a synchronized protocol was established for the colony. Vaika-housed dogs are vaccinated for distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis (serovars canicola, icterohemorrhagiae, grippotyphosa, and pomona), and rabies virus according to American Animal Hospital Association vaccination guidelines [52]. The dogs are all fitted with flea and tick collars for external parasite control (Seresto Collar, Elanco Pharmaceuticals, Atlanta, GA) and are provided appropriate heartworm testing and preventative treatment monthly (Interceptor, Elanco Pharmaceuticals, Atlanta, GA). Routine complete blood counts and serum biochemistry testing are performed on all dogs biannually, with additional veterinary exams and treatments given as needed to maintain a proper standard of care. At the time of recruitment, dogs are scored for body condition (scale of 1-9, with 5 being ideal), and feeding adjustments are made to maintain ideal body condition and weight (measured every 3-4 weeks) since over- or under-nutrition can influence longevity.

Dogs were identified for co-housing within the indoor kennels and divided into groups for outside playtime based on their compatibility (upon recruitment, owners provided a short description of behavior peculiarities for each animal, specifying if there were signs of aggression/anxiety towards other dogs or humans). Gradual arrival of animals at the kennel facilitated the smooth introduction of new members to the colony. Any dogs displaying undesired social behavior are relocated to another kennel or playgroup. All dogs are singly housed during feeding time and co-housed as appropriate for their nature for the remainder of the day. Co-housing and playgroups continue to be updated as dogs age and circumstances change. Diseased dogs or dogs recovering after surgical procedures are isolated from regular playgroups and, whenever possible, walked individually. During severe weather conditions, outdoor playtime is substituted by indoor enrichment.

All aspects of dog maintenance, observation, testing, and treatment are performed in strict compliance with the standards of Cornell University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (Protocol #2018-0022), which follows the NIH guidelines on ethical standards for work with laboratory vertebrate animals [53]. An extensive set of standard operating procedures, including routine medical and feeding protocols for the dogs, research testing protocols, staff training protocols, and facility management protocols, have been developed for the project and have been successfully implemented during the time since Vaika’s establishment in 2018 (a description of key operating procedures are provided in Supplementary Materials).

A collection of tests for multidimensional assessment of aging-related processes

Based on the principles of the research design described above and considering the limitations of the selected dog population, we developed a minimum list of parameters that must be assessed to achieve our goals and identified tests for the measurement of general health, physical fitness, immune system dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, and somatic cell genome modifications. The tests and schedule of their application are presented in Table 1, with further details provided in the following sections.

Currently, we are in the process of data collection and preliminary analysis. Analyses performed to date with the accumulating data have supported the relevance of the monitored parameters for the aging process (see below). In addition, samples from the dogs are being used to build a biobank for future research purposes. This biobank is comprised of DNA and plasma from blood and biopsies of skin, muscle, and adipose tissue collected annually throughout the animals’ lives, as well as complete tissues (both frozen and paraffin blocks), collected upon necropsy at the time of the animal’s death.

General health

General health status is an essential indicator of aging for any mammal, including dogs and humans. This complex parameter is directly relevant to quality of life (QOL) and correlates with residual life expectancy [54, 55]. For humans, substantial effort has been put into developing indices that reduce the complex composition of general health parameters associated with aging to a single quantitative value, e.g., a frailty index [56]. Several reported approaches to establish health-defining indices for animals are based on assessing deviations of fundamental health parameters from the norm for a particular species [5, 57, 58]. However, these approaches do not work across species and do not apply to dogs, whose broad variability with respect to size, lifespan, and other characteristics makes it nearly impossible to develop an index suitable for all canines. Therefore, we had to develop a methodology appropriate for general health assessment in our aging sled dog population.

Our goal is not just to assess the state of health of a given dog but rather to dissect the aging process into its two key components: (i) declining resilience and (ii) acquisition of aging-related diseases. Aging-associated decreases in resilience manifest as impairment of an organism’s ability to return to homeostasis after intrinsic or extrinsic stresses. Reduced resilience reflects biological age but does not by itself lead to development of pathologies reducing QOL. No countermeasures targeting loss of resilience have been developed to date. The second component of aging involves pathological deficits (diseases) that are primarily the result of external influences (e.g., lifestyle, diet, infections, wounding) and are, in many cases, treatable. In aged organisms with reduced resilience, the risk of disease development increases while recovery speed diminishes; thus, QOL is progressively reduced, and the risk of death increases. Hence, the second component (disease) is typically considered the ultimate cause of death even though the first component (reduced resilience) plays such a critical role. To properly understand the aging process, it is crucial to evaluate health parameters related to each of these two aging components separately rather than combining them into a single general index.

The process of gradual loss of resilience occurring in the absence of the second component (i.e., diseases) can be considered “healthy aging.” “Healthy aging” occurs when the organism ages under optimal conditions of care, reaches its ultimate lifespan and dies from aging per se due to a complete loss of resilience. This model is described in a recent publication that explores such a scenario for humans [59]. While “healthy aging” is an extreme and rarely achievable scenario, it is essential to accurately characterize its specific parameters apart from age-related pathologies to identify biomarkers of “healthy aging” and ultimately develop antiaging therapies.

Parameters of “healthy aging” have been established for some breeds of dogs [60]. However, a comparison of reference values obtained for the two best-studied breeds, beagles and Labradors, showed substantial interbreed differences in some important (e.g., blood) parameters [60]. Thus, it is essential to establish a reference set of “healthy aging” parameters specifically for each dog model, and we see this as one of the main goals of our sled dog study. Monitoring of the second component of aging, the accumulation of deficits, is also important; this will reveal common trends of age-related diseases for our study population determined by genetic backgrounds and prior living conditions. This information can then be used to provide dogs with the proper prophylaxis and treatment of age-related pathologies (e.g., osteoarthritis) to ideally prolong their healthspans effectively and allow us to study and eventually treat the “healthy aging” component.

As shown in Table 1, we regularly assess several general health parameters in our sled dog population to characterize the onset and dynamics of clinical signs of aging. We collect data on the state of major systems in all dogs every six months, paying particular attention to pathologies known to be associated with aging in sled dogs. This data is obtained through analysis of blood samples, including assessment of red blood cell regeneration, white blood cell counts, and serum biochemistry alterations indicative of skeletal muscle integrity and renal and hepatic function. In addition, physical examinations are performed with particular focus on metabolizable energy intake and body condition, including assessment of serum thyroid hormone levels and neurologic and musculoskeletal function (sarcopenia, arthritis). Computed tomography (CT) findings related to lean body mass and arthritis are collected annually and evaluated against physical exam findings for a complete musculoskeletal and neurologic integrity assessment.

Physical fitness

Reduced endurance is a prominent and universal sign of mammalian aging that is particularly apparent in human and animal athletes due to their loss of competitiveness. In fact, the dogs in Vaika’s population were selected based on their reduced physical performance in racing, which appeared to be due in most cases to age-related decline, or in a few cases, to musculoskeletal dysfunction. Reduced exercise tolerance in aged mammals is also reflected by an increase in the time needed to recover from physical stress. This indicates declining resilience, which, as discussed above, is the most direct aging trait. Exercise is one of the types of stress to which reduced resistance correlates with mortality in humans [61], although this has not yet been determined in dogs. Thus, assessments of physical performance and the speed of recovery from exercise stress are vital components of our aging-tracing toolset. Since our dogs are retired athletes well adapted to running, we selected treadmill and weight pull tests to measure their physical performance and tolerance to physical activity (see Table 1). Alterations in various physiological parameters in dogs after exercise have been described in earlier studies conducted in beagles [62], Labradors [63, 64], greyhounds [65], and sled dogs [66–68]. Changes in blood cell composition (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, and blood levels of several cytokines, lactate, cortisol, and glucose [67, 69, 70] are defined biomarkers of physical stress responses, including the time to recover to an individual’s baseline.

In treadmill tests performed every 6 months, we measure the distance each dog covers running at its individually determined acceptable maximum speed for 20 minutes. This duration is designed to avoid endurance/exhausting conditions that would stress the animals excessively and potentially alter blood cell composition and cytokine production. We also measure HR, blood lactate and troponin levels, and the kinetics of cytokine responses to exercise. HR reflects how the cardiovascular system responds to exercise and how quickly it can return to normal. HR is measured before exercise, immediately post-exercise, and again at 2- and 20- minutes post-exercise. Increased blood lactate levels indicate muscle transition to anaerobic glycolysis and reflect the dog’s tolerance to exercise. Lactate is measured immediately pre- and post-exercise. Post-exercise troponin levels are an established marker of exercise-related cardiac injury in humans [71, 72] and are therefore used as indicators of stress placed on the cardiovascular system which is measured before and 5 minutes after the dogs’ treadmill exercise. To obtain data on cytokine responses to exercise previously documented in humans [73] and sled dogs [68, 74], we collect serum before, and 5 minutes, 2-, 4-, and 24- hours after treadmill exercise and assess levels of GM-CSF, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, IP-10, IL-10, KC-like, IL-18, MCP1, and TNF-alpha by Immunology Multiplex Assay (MILLIPLEX MAP Canine Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel on Luminex platform).

In addition to analyzing the response of the above-described physiological parameters to physical exercise, the treadmill test also allows us to study various aspects of each dog’s gait, including foot placement, pressure, and duration on the treadmill, through sensors built into the system. Gait4Dog software uses this information to generate a patented Gait4Dog Lameness Score (GLS). Treadmill sensor data and GLS scores, along with information on HR, lactate, and cytokine responses to exercise, will be used to assess aging longitudinally and cross-sectionally and analyzed in the context of other findings such as indications of osteoarthritis determined through physical exams and CT scans [75, 76].

While treadmill tests provide extensive data on physical fitness, we chose to also assess dog fitness with a simple pull test that is more similar to sled dogs’ natural work of pulling a sled. Pull tests are performed every 6 months using a simply constructed wheeled cart holding weights equal to 1.5 times the dog’s body weight. The dog wears a specially designed harness typical for sled dog weight pull competitions and is encouraged by a handler through voice commands to pull the cart for 40 ft. The dog’s average time to complete the 40 ft. pull over three successive trials is recorded. Test failures and total distances traversed are also recorded.

Our attempts to capture continuous HR, respiration, and activity measurements using multiple noninvasive activity monitors during the physical fitness tests have not yet been successful due to insufficient accuracy and reliability compared to video recordings of activity.

Before initiating the treadmill or pull test, the dogs are acclimated to the equipment, handlers, and general protocol. Between tests, dogs are conditioned/habituated every other week to each of these events for approximately 5 minutes each. This routine conditioning/habituation is intended to reduce the risk of lack of familiarity with the test conditions affecting a dog’s performance on the 6-month test date. On the other hand, routine conditioning is purposefully “low-level” (short in duration and only once every other week) to prevent any increase in the dogs’ exercise capabilities, but rather recapitulate the relatively sedentary lifestyle of most dogs and humans.

We expect that our approach to testing the physical fitness and tolerance of sled dogs to exercise will provide information on the dynamics of aging in dogs and become one of the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of antiaging therapies. Our early testing of Vaika-resident dogs supports this, which showed a statistically significant decline in physical performance in treadmill tests over 12 months (Figure 2A).

Immune system status

The immune system protects the host organism from extrinsic (i.e., infections, wounding) and intrinsic (i.e., damaged, dead, or transformed cells) challenges. The immune system’s key role in health maintenance underscores its unique and central role in aging. The decline in immune function that develops with age termed “immunosenescence” is a fundamental component of the “healthy aging” process, defined as the loss of resilience. In the absence of adequate immune protection, what might have been a transient or asymptomatic disease in young individuals can turn into a chronic or even lethal condition [59]. Immunosenescence is a universal sign of mammalian aging, and its consequence – chronic unresolved inflammation – is an essential component of all diseases associated with aging, including atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes type 2, cancer, and neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases [77]. Strong systemic effects of experimental rejuvenation of the hematopoietic system illustrated the pivotal importance of declining immune function during aging [78].

Immunosenescence affects both the innate and adaptive branches of immunity. Failure of innate immunity manifests as ineffective “garbage removal” functions, resulting in the accumulation of cellular debris, elevated cancer risk, and an increased number of senescent cells [79, 80]. While immunosenescence leads to suppression of the housecleaning functions of innate immunity, it does not affect its capacity for activation; this misbalance creates conditions in which unresolved activating signals induce the development of subclinical chronic systemic inflammation, known as “inflammaging” [81].

Adaptive immunity also undergoes pronounced changes during aging. The number of naive T cells decreases, primarily due to thymic involution [82], leading to reduced diversity of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. This, in turn, leads to a higher risk of infections, dampened vaccination response, and impairment of immune memory to previously encountered pathogens. At the same time, the proportion of terminally differentiated CD28- cells increases, especially within the CD8+ population [77]. The reason for this shift is likely from innate immunity dysfunction and chronic antigenic stimulation by, for example, viruses that remain latent until immunity is weakened (e.g., herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus in humans [83, 84]).

In general, the canine immune system undergoes similar age-related changes to that of humans [85]. However, since completed canine studies are generally less comprehensive and predominantly cross-sectional, the reliability and relative significance of various immune parameters in aging have yet to be characterized. For example, an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio is an established biomarker of high-risk mortality in aged humans, [86–88] but was not confirmed in a longitudinal study conducted in aging Labrador Retrievers [89]. In dogs, the timeline of thymus atrophy is breed- and gender-specific, and longer-lived dogs tend to maintain pools of recently emigrated thymic cells longer than short-lived dogs [90]. Therefore, immune dysfunction occurring with age may differ from breed to breed, and previously accumulated information cannot be assumed to be relevant to our sled dog population. In our aging sled dog study, we use a battery of tests to assess age-related changes in both innate and adaptive immunity longitudinally and in the context of other pathologies. These tests (see Table 1) encompass five areas of immune function and phenotype, including (i) T cell phenotype and function, (ii) humoral responses to vaccination, (iii) circulating polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC), (iv) phagocytic activity of neutrophils and monocytes, and (v) serum cytokine levels. Cytokine measurements are collected every 6 months, and all other tests are performed annually. The workflow for collection and processing of blood samples for all immunologic assays is shown in Figure 2B.

We assess T cell phenotype by flow cytometry after staining for the following markers: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD28, and FoxP3. These markers define major T lymphocyte populations, including T helper cells (CD4⁺), cytotoxic T cells (CD8⁺), and T regulatory cells (CD4⁺, CD25⁺, FoxP3⁺). We use EliSpot assays to evaluate T cell function by measuring proliferation of five cytokine-secreting cell types (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, or IFNγ) in response to the mitogens concanavalin-A or phytohemagglutinin. Sled dogs’ humoral responses to vaccination will be determined by measuring specific antibody titers in serum samples collected just before and one month after annual vaccination with a four-serovar leptospirosis vaccine. Circulating PMN-MDSC are increased in the blood of dogs with tumors, a significant age-related category of canine disease [91, 92]. We measure the presence of these cells by staining the PBMC fraction of density centrifugation-separated cells with a canine neutrophil-specific monoclonal antibody (clone CADO48A) followed by flow cytometry. Phagocytic activity, primarily executed by neutrophils, is an essential component of host responses against microorganisms [93, 94]. We measure this effector function in PBMC samples using an assay in which Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis of immunoglobulin-coated fluorescent latex beads is quantified by flow cytometry. Finally, analysis of serum cytokine concentrations provides an overview of the systemic immunologic milieu, including inflammation. This data is obtained using frozen serum samples and the Milliplex Canine Cytokine/Chemokine panel, which simultaneously measures 13 canine cytokines and chemokines: GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-18, IP-10, KC-like, MCP-1, and TNFα.

Our preliminary analysis of data from these assays demonstrated statistically significant age-dependent changes in immune parameters, including T cell phenotype (Figure 2C) and presence of PMN-MSDC (Figure 2D) between populations of young sled dogs (2-4 years old) and aged sled dogs (8-12 years old). We expect a complete analysis of immunologic data collected longitudinally over a multi-year timeframe will provide a robust picture of the dynamics of age-related immune decline in sled dogs.

Cognitive tests

Cognitive decline is considered a major age-related disease; therefore, monitoring the dynamics of this pathology in our sled dog population is an essential aspect of this study. Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is a neuropathological condition that progresses with age and affects a dog’s health and QOL [33]. It is diagnosed in up to 60% of aged canines, with no gender or breed differences and 11 years of age being the most common onset of owner-detected behavior changes [95, 96]. CDS is manifested by behavior and personality changes summarized by the acronym DISHA: disorientation; changes in interactions with owners, other pets, or the environment; sleep-wake cycle disturbances; house-soiling, and changes in activity [97, 98]. While CDS is usually diagnosed based on owner-filled questionnaires on DISHA parameters [97], other measures are also available. These include tests of spontaneous activity [99–101], novelty seeking [102], social interactions [99, 103], and problem solving [104], which have been developed to more objectively measure behavior patterns associated with CDS. In addition, brain atrophy and neuron loss accompanying CDS are characterized by deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques [103, 105–108] and release of the light chain of neurofilament (Nfl), both of which can be detected in circulation [103, 109, 110].

Our study cannot entirely rely on behavioral and QOL questionnaires since we do not have detailed information regarding individual dogs’ habits and behavior in the past and cannot distinguish between pre-existing and acquired conditions. However, we can detect age-related changes occurring during the study and classify dogs into behavioral categories based on questionnaires completed by our staff dog handlers (Supplementary Figure 2). Importantly, repeated replies within reports provided by different handlers add statistical value to the study. The findings from questionnaires will be supplemented by additional, more objective tests related to CDS, including open field tests, detection of neurodegenerative biomarkers in plasma, and problem-solving “V” tests (see Table 1).

Several studies have shown that locomotor activity is affected by aging and cognitive dysfunction [99–101]]: while elder dogs tend to decrease overall locomotor activity, those with cognitive decline increase locomotion and their movements are characterized as aimless and not affected by the introduction of stimuli. Open field tests developed by Rosado et al. assess these aspects of locomotion by monitoring spontaneous activity of dogs in different environments [111, 112]. This testing platform was selected for use in our study since sled dogs differ from typical pet dogs in their upbringing (living outside of an owner’s house, not used to playing with toys, not trained for typical pet dog commands, but responding to mushing-related tasks) and in being less consistently food-motivated. Therefore, we could not utilize some widely accepted behavior testing approaches, such as tests involving owner-pet interaction or learning new commands, and instead focused on tests that did not require specific or repeated training.

We perform open field tests every nine months, with each dog participating in four consecutive tests in (i) an empty room, (ii) a room with toys, (iii) a room with a mirror, and (iv) a room with a novel person that is not allowed to interact with the dog (see Supplementary Materials for detailed information). The testing room floor is divided into equal squares, enabling quantification of the dog’s locomotion by calculating the number of squares crossed during a given amount of time. Patterns of locomotion (time spent sitting/standing/laying down vs. walking/running) are also recorded. Importantly, changes in locomotor activity might not necessarily reflect cognitive decline. For example, decreased activity might be due to sickness. Therefore, in our analysis, we incorporate physical exam results and information on the onset of novel health issues (e.g., arthritis and related lameness or vision decline) and blood parameters that might affect the dogs’ mood and well-being (e.g., thyroid gland function). Other parameters tracked in open field tests include time spent by the dog at defined parts of the room (door zone, corners, central area) with or without additional stimuli (mirror, toys, or novel human) and the extent of the dog’s interaction with mirror, toys, or human. The latter information allows us to test novelty seeking, which was shown to decline with age [102], and changes in social behavior (decreased interest in petting, avoiding contacts, or lack of greeting behavior), which serves as the most prominent factor in CDS diagnosis [99, 103].

Open field tests provide a comprehensive source of information, which after digitization, can be used for (i) classifying dogs into behavioral categories and (ii) assessing changes in dogs’ behavior with time. Such dynamics and other tests run in parallel will allow us to reveal specific behavioral patterns detectable in open field tests that most reliably reflect age-related cognitive decline.

We also test our dogs using a spatial problem-solving detour task (“V-test”) in which a treat is separated from the dog by a transparent V-shaped fence such that the animal can see but not directly access the treat. To reach the treat, the dog needs to move around the barrier. Our test conditions are classified as “continuously visible goal locomotor detours” meaning that the goal (treat) is visible all the time, and the dog needs to move in a counterintuitive direction to get it. Tests of this type assess inhibitory control (ability to decide against walking to the goal in a straight line), route planning, and learning [104].

We chose to use the V-test since it does not require additional training and enables clear quantitative interpretations. It was previously used with populations of dingoes [113] and appears to be suitable for testing dogs that are less human-oriented than household dogs. A detailed description of our version of the V-test is provided in Supplementary Materials. Our preliminary analysis shows that dogs’ performance in the V-test correlates well with independent assessment methods of their cognitive states, such as questionnaires completed by care providers (Figure 2E) and measurements of interaction with a novel human in open field tests (Figure 2G).

Finally, we measure two plasma biomarkers relevant to pathological processes accompanying CDS in addition to questionnaires and behavior-based testing. Characteristics of CDS include brain atrophy and neuron loss [114], deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques [105] with the density and tissue distribution of plaques correlating with disease severity [103, 115], increased local inflammation, and microglia activation [108], and occasionally neurofibrillary tangles formed by phosphorylated tau aggregates [108]. As in humans, Aβ deposits accumulate in the canine brain with aging [106], and this accumulation, as well as the density and load of amyloid, correlates with the severity of cognitive decline [103, 105, 108]. The ratio of the larger Aβ42 form to more abundant Aβ40 form in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a good predictor of Aβ load in the brain [115]. Several studies assessed if plasma circulating Aβ might serve as a CDS biomarker and confirmed that, as in humans, plasma Aβ levels were higher in dogs with healthy aging and lower in cognitively impaired animals [110, 116]. These observations suggest that the relationship between amyloid precursor protein (APP) and cognitive dysfunction is likely similar in canines and humans [reviewed in [117] and [118].

Another biomarker of cognitive decline currently being evaluated in humans [119, 120] and dogs [103, 109] is the light chain of neurofilament (NfL), a neuronal cytoskeletal protein that is integral to neuronal structure and function. As a protein released upon neuronal damage into systemic circulation, NfL is considered a potential biomarker of neurodegeneration. Work by Panek et al. [109] demonstrated a gradual increase in plasma NfL levels over the course of healthy canine aging, with a significant increase in cognitively impaired dogs.

Plasma concentrations of Aβ and NfL are measured every 18 months in all dogs in Vaika’s population using a previously described protocol [109]. While our goal is to collect longitudinal data on these two biomarkers, preliminary data obtained at a single timepoint across our population confirmed previously reported age-related differences in both parameters. This suggests that the markers will be helpful for further longitudinal study in our cohort. We also observed correlation of NfL levels with other parameters assessed, providing cross-validation of tests (Figure 2F).

These biomarkers are considered complementary to functional cognition testing and will be integrated within a coordinated toolset enabling cross-validation of results and defining the relative value of individual assays. Initial assessment of correlations between questionnaire responses and V-test results revealed the value of this type of pooled analysis (Figure 2E), as similar conclusions emerged from unrelated approaches.

Importantly, since dogs participate in the study until the time of their natural death, we will be able to collect brain tissue at the time of necropsy and examine it for the presence of amyloid and signs of inflammation (amyloid deposition has been shown to lead to microglial activation and local inflammation [103]). This will allow us to further confirm the reliability of tested biomarkers and the scoring of behavior tests.

Together, the results of these tests will provide a robust and comprehensive characterization of age-related cognitive decline in sled dogs. This will enable analysis of connections between cognitive decline and other aspects of aging evaluated in the study and potentially be useful in future testing of the efficacy of antiaging and CDS-preventive treatments.

Somatic cell genome modifications

Aging of mammals is associated with the gradual accumulation of cells with genetic and epigenetic changes. A progressive increase in point mutations during aging was recently directly demonstrated by genomic analysis of DNA from somatic cells of humans [121]. Specific changes in DNA methylation patterns have also been consistently observed during aging of humans and mice, leading to the concept of a “methylation clock” [122] that has been validated in both species [123–125]. Cells with damaged DNA and altered epigenetic control undergo a phenotypic transition known as cellular senescence [126, 127], which is accompanied by constitutive activation of NF-κB- and interferon-driven transcriptional responses [45], resulting in secretion of pro-inflammatory factors and establishment of a so-called SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype) [128]. These well-documented phenomena provide a mechanistic foundation integrating multiple aspects of mammalian aging [129]. Characterization of these processes in aging sled dogs is important for putting this model in the context of other aging studies, finding explanations for the shorter longevity of dogs vs. other species of similar body size [130, 131], and identifying biomarkers of somatic cell alterations that could be used for correlative analysis vis-à-vis other manifestations of aging. To reach these goals, we will analyze peripheral blood samples collected annually from sled dogs using three classes of research tools: (i) quantitation of mutagenic and inflammaging-inducing retrotransposition activity of SINE and LINE elements, (ii) assessment of age-related changes in DNA methylation (“methylation clock”), and (iii) measurement of p16/Ink4a gene expression, a biomarker of cellular senescence.

Our analysis of retrotransposition is based on studies of mechanisms underlying genomic alterations of somatic cells that revealed a significant role of endogenous retrotransposons, especially the LINE-1 family of repeats, as intrinsic mutagens [132, 133]. Rare spontaneous activation of LINE-1 expression, normally suppressed at an epigenetic level, drives retrotransposition of not only LINE-1 elements themselves but also the SINE family of retroelements, pericentromeric satellite DNA, and processed pseudogenes (intronless, promoterless copies of mRNAs) [134]. Together, these sequences, referred to as the “retrobiome,” comprise nearly half of mammalian DNA. In addition to causing genomic instability through the insertion of new element copies into the genome, retrobiome activation induces an inflammatory response via cGAS-STING-mediated induction of interferon signaling, which contributes to “inflammaging” [45, 46] (Figure 3A). Together, these findings led us to hypothesize that the number of SINE and LINE-1 element copies in a genome increases in an age-related manner and may be considered a “somatic genetic aging clock.” To test this hypothesis, we have developed a computational bioinformatic toolset that allows us to analyze the composition and dynamics of SINE and LINE-1 elements in dog genomes based on whole genome sequencing data. This approach is illustrated in Figure 3B.

As described above, the paradigm of a methylation clock is well established in humans and mice. In canines, this has only been looked at in relatively small cross-sectional datasets; however, findings of principal similarities in the genomic distribution of changes in DNA methylation between canines (dogs and wolves) and humans or mice suggests that the methylation clock works similarly across mammalian species [135, 136]. To confirm this and compare methylation clock activity with other markers and signs of canine aging, we will analyze age-related alterations in DNA methylation in PBMC collected annually from our population of retired sled dogs using the methods described in our previous work [46].

Finally, we will evaluate biomarkers of senescent cells since their accumulation in somatic tissues has been linked to mammalian aging [79, 137, 138]. Senescent cells undergo epigenetic transitions detected as modifications of chromatin structure that result in complex transcriptional profile changes. Activation of p16/Ink4a gene expression is a universally accepted and easily measurable indicator of cellular senescence reflecting epigenetic alterations associated with this cell aging phenotype [139]. We will measure p16/Ink4a RNA levels in PBMC longitudinally collected from aging dogs using quantitative RT-PCR and deep RNA sequencing methods. The latter approach will allow us to analyze p16/Ink4a expression in the context of other age-related changes in gene expression.

These data will allow us to look for coordination among genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional age-related alterations and identify potential correlations between the “methylation clock,” the “somatic genetic aging clock,” and immunosenescence as well as parameters evaluated in other branches of the study (e.g., inflammation, cognitive decline, neurological aging markers, physical frailty).

Conclusions

Our ongoing program will generate a large volume of data covering, in a longitudinal fashion, multiple parameters related to the general health, physical fitness, immune status, cognitive function, and somatic cell genetic and epigenetic changes of 103 Vaika-resident retired sled dogs. All the obtained data will be put in a digitized format into a sled dog aging database (SDAD), which will become the source for integrative analyses aimed at putting the totality of accumulated information into the context of major mechanistic concepts of aging (e.g., the role of senescent cells, activity of endogenous retrotransposons, immunosenescence, neurodegeneration). We expect that these analyses will allow us to (i) characterize the mechanism(s) and regulation of canine aging, (ii) identify parameters and biomarkers suitable for assessment of biological age, and (iii) define factors that may act as aging accelerators or decelerators. We plan, as a result, to create a biomarker-based methodology for objectively assessing biological age in our canine population. This should allow robust estimation of the efficacy of antiaging treatments in future trials based on biomarker responses without waiting for animals to reach their ultimate lifespan. Overall, the infrastructure established for this study provides an important advance in the use of canines, an ideal animal model for aging research that can be translated to human health.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary Material